RSPCA rescue fox cub trapped 7ft down manhole
A fox cub has been rescued after he found himself stuck down a manhole in Birmingham.
Residents had head the young fox crying near to a hostel in Grange Road, on Monday, April 27.
RSPCA animal collection officers Cara Gibbon and Vic Hurr, along with inspector Nichola Geraghty, went to the hostel and found the fox was stuck at the bottom of the manhole, around seven feet down.
Vic said: "There were two open manholes side by side in the back garden, with a wall between and piping running through.
“The young fox was stuck at the bottom of the manholes, around seven foot down, having clearly fallen into the drainage system after the manhole covers were lifted to clear a blockage.
“He was clearly very distressed and locals could hear him barking and crying. But whenever we tried to catch him he would run into the pipes and out of sight.”
West Midlands Fire Service were called in to the assist the RSPCA team in rescuing the young fox.
Vic added: "We set a fox trap and lowered it down into the manhole on a rope. We returned the following morning, but he hadn’t been caught in the trap.
“We managed to locate the fox backed into a narrow pipe leading out of the drainage area where he had dropped down into a junction area and out of reach.
“We called emergency drainage and plumbing firm, DynoRod, for help and we pushed a camera into the drain to locate the fox before using rods to carefully push him out.
“The cub was very wet and cold. His mum hadn’t been seen in the area for some time so we decided to take him to a local wildlife hospital for care until he’s old enough to be released.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to the fire service, DynoRod worker Chris, and locals who all helped to ensure we could free this poor fox and Vale Wildlife Hospital for taking him in.
“He’s since had a bath and been released out into an enclosure with a group of juvenile foxes. When they are big enough they will be released back to the wild.”
